Speed-regulating device



W. P. MCNEEL.

SPEED REGULATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.27, 1920.

Patented May 16, 1922. I

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Iconstructed wheel member mounted on WILLIAM IINKNEY MGNEEL, 0F SANANTONIO, TEXAS.

Application led November 27, 1920.

T 0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ILLIAM P. MCNEEL, a citizen of the United States,`residing at San Antonio, State of Texas, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements Speed-Regulating Devices; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in speed regulating devices,andparticularly to a device for gradually increasing or decreasing thespeed of a driven member automatically. v

The invention is applicable, and well adapted, to motion picture filmapparatus, wherein it is desired to increase or decrease the speed ofthe film reel, and is an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in oneof my former Patents, No. 1,302,821, of May 6, 1919, but it is, ofcourse, to be understood that the invention is not limited to suchadaptation, but will beequally effective in any form of apparatus wherea gradation of speed is desired.

The particular object rof the invention is the provision of a device forpositively and automatically gradually' increasing or decreasing thespeed of a driven member through a transmission of particular design andconstruction.

The invention, in its broadest aspects, comprises a driven shaftprovidedy with a specially `designed rotatable cone member adapted to beengaged by a particularly the driving shaft, the novel cooperation cflthe cone with the wheel not only providing the necessary engagementtherebetween, Vbut also the means of guiding the wheel along and aroundthe peripheral surface ,of said. cone from end to end, or between any ofthe intermediate points thereof, during the operation of the device.

The invention also contemplates an 4arrangement whereby the graduationin speed may be effectedk from the highest to the lowest speeds or viceversa, or from any intermediate speed to the highest or lowest speeds,means being provided for disengaging or engaging the contacting elementsof the transmission at any point within the extreme range of speeds.

Specification of Letters Patent.

., i'm Y SPEEDREGULATING DEVICE.

Patented May 16, 1922.

serial No. 426,845.

The particular improvement of the present invention over that disclosedin my former patent, above mentioned, is in the difference ofconstruction and design of the contacting members of the variable speedtransmission whereby a positive and certain graduation of the speed isassured.

Generally stated, the improved device comprises a truncated conejournalled in a substantially la-shaped frame pivotally supported inanother, oppositely disposed, U-

shaped frame, which latter frame is attached to a base plate properlysecured in any desired position relative to the machine, or the like,with which the aforesaid device is to cooperate. The cone member ispreferably provided with a series of holes or recesses arranged inspiral formation around the periphery of the cone, in a manner similarto a screw-thread construction. Cooperating with this perforated cone isa spur wheel mounted on a rotating shaft journalled in another, similar,U-shaped frame, which frame or support is also securedv to the basemember carrying the conesupporting frame, said spur wheel-support ingframe being arranged. alongside of the cone-supporting frame and inparallel relation thereto.

The connection between the shaft supporting the spur wheel for drivingthe cone and the main driving shaft is effected through a slotted sleevesurrounding one end of the spur wheel shaft, said spur wheel shaft beingprovided with a pin or stud adapted to project through and engage theslotted portion of said sleeve. The slot in the sleeve is of sufficientlength to permit the spur wheel and its shaft to traverse the fulllength of the cone and allow the stud or pin to be all times inengagement with said slot. The frame-carried cone, being` pivoted withArespect to the mounting of the spur wheel shaft, will provide for theswinging of the cone out of and into engagement with the spur wheel, atwill, according to the necessary requirements.

As one exemplitlcation of the invention and `the preferred form ofdevice, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a front elevation thereof,

`Fig. 1a shows the continuation of the slotted, telescoping, sleeveconnection between the spur wheel shaft and main driving shaft.

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fed up and down the cone,

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2 is a side vieiv of the device, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan vieiv thereof.

Referring to the draivil Y, in detail, the novel transmission comprisesa trliincated cone 1 adapted. to be driven by a cooperating Wheel 2. '1"he cone lY is secured to the shaft mounted for rotation in asubstantially lul-shaped frame 4:, Which frame is, in turn, supported,for a limited swinging movement, in another, oppositcly disposed,lil-shaped frame o by means of pivots or the like 6. The suinportingframe 5 is rigidly secured to a base plate 7, which base plate may beattached in any convenient location V relative to the apparatus withwhich the device .is adapted to cooperate. The Wheel 2 is secured to ashaft 8 inoiuitedL for rotation in another, substantially ll-shapedframe 9, which frame is also secured to the base platef( alongside ofand in parallel relation to the frame 5 carrying the conesupportingframe e. The upper ond of the rotatingshaft 8 is provided With atelescoping sleeve 10 which sleeve is secured by an appropriate coupling11 to the main dri ving shaft 12. The sleeve 10 is constructed with aslot 13 adapted to cooperate with a pin or stud 14rcarried by the shaft8, providing the necessary means of locking the sleeve 10 to the shaft 8forthe purpose of forming the driving` connection for rotating saidshaft 8 during the operation of the device.

rfhe cone 1 is provided with a series of uniformly spaced, spirallyarranged, apertures or recesses 15 running around the poripheral surfaceof the cone from end to end.. These perforations or recesses are adaptedto be engaged by spurs or studs 16 mounted on the peripheral surface ofWheel furnishing a novel means of rotating the cone 1 by the spur Wheelthrough the shaft 8, sleeve connection 10, and main driving shaft 12,When the cone is in engagement with said spur Wheel. This pin and recessconstruction not only provides a positive means of driving the cone but,at the same time, causes the spur wheel to be uniformly as the case maybe, in a constant and uniform mannen ln other vvords, the particularcooperation between the cons andthe driving spur Wheel forms a novelinterlock therebetween, and by reason'of having the perforations orrecesses in the -cone spirally arranged an additional object will beaccomplished, in that said spur Wheel ivill be conducted up and down theperipheral surface of the cone and thereby gradually increase ordecrease the speed of the cone-supporting shaft connected by a universaljoint or the vlike 17 to the driven shaft 18, Vsaid latter sha ftrunning to the'mechanism to be operated at the variable speeds.

Slot '13 in thegsleeve 10, surrounding the upper end of the shaft 8, ismade sufficiently long to allow the pin or stud 14.- to freely tavel upand down the slot without interiguption to permit the spur wheel 2 totraverse the full length of the cone from end to endV during theoperation of the device.

rlhe legs of the lll-shaped supporting frame 5 extend under the legs ofthe U- shape'd supporting frame 4l carrying the cone shaft 3, andnormally in parallel relation thereto, in order that said frame t ivillhave adequate support at all times. The legs of the support 5 extendWell under the legs of support 1- to a point beyond the shaft 3, so thatshaft 3 also passes through openings formed in said legs. The openingsin the legs of the support 5 are elongated as at 19, which provides fora limited svvinging movement of the frame l on its pivots 6 When it isnecessary to disengage the cone from the spur Wheel. To assist in thisopertion, the frame l is conveniently provided With a handle 2O so thatthe cone 1, supported in said frame, can be readily moved at Will, intoand out of engagement With the spur Wheel 2, according to requirementsincident to the range of speed desired.

'As illustrated in the accompanying dravvings, the holes 15 in the cone1 are circular in shape and, likewise, the engaging spurs or pins 16,but of course it is perfectly obvious that the holes and pins may be ofany appropriate shape' and size.

This construction may also ybe reversed, and pins or spurs placed uponthe cone, and the periphery of the cooperating Wheel provided with holesor recesses, or any other similar arrangement as desired. It islikeivise Within the scope of the invention to mount the cone upon thedriving yshaft and the Wheel upon the driven shaft, but the constructionas disclosed has been found to be the most practical one for-the purposeintended.

llVhat lf claim is:

1. ln a device of the character described, the combination with a drivenshaft and a driving shaft, of a cone carried by the drivenshaft, a discor Wheel secured to the driving shaft, holes or recesses spirally ar-`ranged around the periphery of said cone un a uniform manner from end toend thereof engagement VWith the cooperating spury Wheel.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a drivenshaft and a driving shaft, of a cone carried by the driven shaft, a discor wheel secured to the driving shaft, a swinging frame supporting saiddriven shaft and cone, a rigid frame supporting said driving shaft andwheel, holes or recesses spirally arranged around the periphery of saidcone in a uniform manner from end to end thereof, uniformly spaced spursor pins mounted upon the periphery of said wheel adapted to engage withthe holes or recesses in the cone for rotating said cone, and alsoproviding means for automatically feeding the wheel along the cone, tocause a gradual increase or decrease in the speeds of the driven shaft,a sliding, telescoping connection between the spur wheel driving shaftand a main driving or power shaft, and means for swinging saidcone-supporting frame to engagevand disengage the cone and cooperatingspur wheel.

3., In a device of the character described, the combination of a drivenshaft, a driving shaft, and a supporting base plate for said device, ofa cone carried by the driven shaft, a disc or wheel secured to thedriving shaft, a substantially U-shaped rigid frarneo attached to thebase plate rotatably supporting said driving shaft and wheel, arelatively larger U-shaped rigid frame also attached to said base plateadjacent to and parallel with said first mentioned frame, asubstantially U-shaped swinging frame rotatably supporting said drivenshaft and cone, a pivotal connection between said swinging frame andsaid larger rigid frame, and means carried by said swinging frame formanually moving, at will3 the cone into and out of engagement with thecooperating 40 spur wheel.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

WILLIAM PINKNEY MCNEEL.

